Turkey’s broadcasting regulator RTUK has ordered the removal of three Iraqi Kurdistan-based TV channels from the Turksat satellite system.
The RTUK said Rudaw, Kurdistan 24 and Waar TV should no longer be available.
Rudaw in particular is of note because of its perceived relationship with Iraqi Kurd leader Massud Barzani. The timing of the decision did not go unnoticed with it falling on the same day as a controversial independence vote in the autonomous region.
Barzani had orchestrated the independence vote for the region, which is not seen as binding.
According to RTUK the decision was made because the channels were not based in Turkey and didn’t hold a Turkish broadcasting licence.
Kurdish channels in particular have faced the wrath of RTUK; last October Med Nuce TV and Newroz TV were embroiled in a legal dispute over their carriage on the Eutelsat Hot Bird. In May Ronahi, Sterk and the News Channel were banned by RTUK with another request to cease carriage in Europe being sent to Eutelsat.